TOPICS: How close may the jack be to the end line? How close may the jack be from another jack that is in play by teams in another game? What are the rules governing when and how a team may move the circle?

Greetings Boulers & Boulerinas,

No readers have sent any “Asks” this month for your umpire to answer. Perhaps I should be writing “Boulodromes of the Rich and Famous” or “Gossip Among the Boule Tossers”? Maybe “Tinder for a Tournament Partner”? Swipe away, petanque lovers.

Twice this month, different circumstances of play have arisen around a couple of the new rules. They are pretty self-explanatory, so I’ll indulge your desire for brevity, and not comment. For your reading pleasure, they are:

Article 7, item 3)
That the jack must be a minimum of 50 cm from any obstacle and from the end line of the lane, it must also be a minimum of 1.5 metres from another jack in use. (note: no minimum distance is required from the “side” line that separates the lanes or the dead ball lines at the side of the lanes).

And later in Article 7
If the jack has not been thrown in accordance with the rules … the opposing team will place the jack in a valid position on the terrain. They may also move the circle back, in accordance with the conditions defined in these rules, if the first team’s positioning of the circle did not allow the jack to be thrown the maximum distance. [GC: max distance to pull the ring back is 10 meters from the end string line, PLUS the 50cm “buffer” as described in Art. 7, item 3 as above.]

Cheers, and let’s please have some questions for our next edition sent to:
ourmaninparis@yahoo.com

Gregory Conyers
Sports Director – Edmonds Petanque Club
NW Regional Umpire

The preceding rules interpretations are offered by EPC member Greg Conyers, NW Regional Umpire. They represent Greg’s interpretation of current petanque rules. Other umpires’ opinions may differ.